Ajay Kumar at 14:18, 23 September 2023

2023-09-23T14:18:49Z

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{{Short description|Referendum on creation of a Sikh state in India}}
{{Infobox event
| name = Khalistan Referendum
| image =
| caption = London Declaration of Khalistan Referendum 2018.
| date = Ongoing
| venue = [[India]], [[Canada]], [[United Kingdom]], [[Italy]], [[Switzerland]], [[Australia]]
| location =
| type = Referendum
| theme = Potential creation of an independent Sikh state Khalistan
}}

The '''Khalistan Referendum''' is an unofficial [[referendum]] organized by the [[Sikhs for Justice]] across multiple countries regarding the potential creation of an independent [[Sikhs|Sikh]] state known as [[Khalistan]] from within the territory of India.<ref name=":0">{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/canada-khalistan-referendum-india-sikhs-b2173723.html | title=What is the Khalistan referendum, and why is India is so concerned about Canada? | website=[[Independent.co.uk]] | date=23 September 2022 | access-date=20 March 2023 | archive-date=20 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320104445/https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/canada-khalistan-referendum-india-sikhs-b2173723.html | url-status=live }}</ref> The goal of the exercise is to seek a consensus among [[Sikh diaspora|diasporic Sikhs]] for the formation of Khalistan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is the 'Khalistan referendum' and where does Australia stand on the issue? |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/language/punjabi/en/podcast-episode/what-is-the-khalistan-referendum-and-what-is-the-australian-governments-stand-on-the-issue/p9cepjlz7 |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=SBS Language |language=en |archive-date=2023-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322052447/https://www.sbs.com.au/language/punjabi/en/podcast-episode/what-is-the-khalistan-referendum-and-what-is-the-australian-governments-stand-on-the-issue/p9cepjlz7 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Background ==
[[Sikhs for Justice]] (SFJ), which was banned in India in 2019, intends to conduct the referendum in Punjab and major cities worldwide. The [[Indian government]] has accused Canada of permitting extremists to carry out activities that are "deeply objectionable" and "politically motivated," which pose a threat to India's integrity. While Canadian authorities have defended the exercise as an exercise of [[freedom of speech]] the Khalistani campaign has become a contentious issue in the relationship between [[New Delhi]] and [[Ottawa]]. There are numerous cases registered in India against the SFJ and its founder, [[Gurpatwant Singh Pannun]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/1074605/australia-tells-modi-it-cant-stop-khalistan-referendum-voting/amp/ | title=Australia tells Modi it can't stop Khalistan Referendum voting | date=19 March 2023 | access-date=20 March 2023 | archive-date=19 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319073403/https://dailytimes.com.pk/1074605/australia-tells-modi-it-cant-stop-khalistan-referendum-voting/amp/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/religionandethicsreport/sikh-diaspora-vote-khalistan-referendum/101887166 | title=Sikh diaspora will vote to establish separate Sikh state in India | website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] | date=25 January 2023 | access-date=20 March 2023 | archive-date=19 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319073408/https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/religionandethicsreport/sikh-diaspora-vote-khalistan-referendum/101887166 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tribune.com.pk/story/2398312/60000-australian-sikhs-defy-modi-in-vote-for-khalistan-referendum%3famp=1 | title=60,000 Australian Sikhs vote for Khalistan Referendum | date=29 January 2023 | access-date=20 March 2023 | archive-date=29 January 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129175939/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2398312/60000-australian-sikhs-defy-modi-in-vote-for-khalistan-referendum?amp=1 | url-status=live }}</ref>

== Referendum by country==

=== Canada ===
According to reports, 100,000 people participated in the Khalistan referendum in Brampton on September 19 2022.<ref name=":0" />

=== United Kingdom ===
On January 9, 2022, the cities of [[Leeds]] and [[Luton]] hosted the eighth round of the Khalistan Referendum. According to a report from Kashmir Media Service, about 30,000 Sikhs took part in the first phase of the Khalistan referendum in [[London]] on October 31, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |title=8th phase of Khalistan Referendum being held in UK cities today |url=https://www.radio.gov.pk/09-01-2022/8th-phase-of-khalistan-referendum-being-held-in-uk-cities-today |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=www.radio.gov.pk |language=en |archive-date=2023-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322112544/https://www.radio.gov.pk/09-01-2022/8th-phase-of-khalistan-referendum-being-held-in-uk-cities-today |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0" />

=== Australia ===
The Australian chapter's referendum for Khalistan's independence was held on January 29 2023 in [[Federation Square]] in [[Melbourne]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-28 |title=Khalistan referendum to take place in Australia on Sunday |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2398146/khalistan-referendum-to-take-place-in-australia-on-sunday |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en |archive-date=2023-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322115055/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2398146/khalistan-referendum-to-take-place-in-australia-on-sunday |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Italy ===
On the initiative of the advocacy group Sikhs For Justice, about 17,000 Sikhs participated in the Khalistan referendum in [[Rome]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-29 |title=Over 200,000 Sikhs take part in Khalistan referendums |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2379266/over-200000-sikhs-take-part-in-khalistan-referendums-held-in-four-countries |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407131044/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2379266/over-200000-sikhs-take-part-in-khalistan-referendums-held-in-four-countries |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sikhs hold referendum in Italy for creation of Khalistan |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/971250-sikhs-hold-referendum-in-italy-for-creation-of-khalistan |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en |archive-date=2023-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210062535/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/971250-sikhs-hold-referendum-in-italy-for-creation-of-khalistan |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Switzerland ===
On December 10, 2022, over 6,000 Sikhs from [[Switzerland]] and neighboring [[France]], [[Italy]], and [[Germany]] converged in [[Geneva]] to vote in the non-binding Khalistan referendum despite a heavy snow and rain storm.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-29 |title=Over 200,000 Sikhs take part in Khalistan referendums |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2379266/over-200000-sikhs-take-part-in-khalistan-referendums-held-in-four-countries |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407131044/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2379266/over-200000-sikhs-take-part-in-khalistan-referendums-held-in-four-countries |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Over 6,000 Sikhs in Geneva vote for Khalistan Referendum despite snowstorm |url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/387060-over-6000-sikhs-in-geneva-vote-for-khalistan-referendum-defying-snowstorm |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=www.geo.tv |language=en |archive-date=2023-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322052447/https://www.geo.tv/latest/387060-over-6000-sikhs-in-geneva-vote-for-khalistan-referendum-defying-snowstorm |url-status=live }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Khalistan movement}}
[[Category:Khalistan movement]]
[[Category:2023 referendums]]

Khalistan Referendum - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 14:18, 23 September 2023